Swivel joint



.Patented Oct. 20, v1936` fri-TENT; omer :,osspsz l SWIVEL JolN'r Irving cswimpeimit, Mish.' Application Maya 193s, sei-iai No. 'isms The invention 'relates particularlyfto swivel .'Iointsof the type that are used" for coupling pipes, tubing, rubber hose and possibly other pur- -posesandhas for itsmain object to provide a structure of this naturewhich is easily manufactured and assembledand which, when assembled,-

such as an outlet from a source of supply of iiuid to be'` transmitted to a point of consumption vby `the tubing. v l

Figs. 2 and 3 are relatively fragmentary, detail sectional views similarv to Fig. 1, showing the relative positions of the `component elements of the swivel Joints during and following assembly thereof, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5. is a fragmentary central longitudinal sectional view-of a hose coupling equipped with a swivel. joint embodying the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the swivel joint comprises a female member (I), having a centraljbore' (2) which is partly threaded internally as at (9) at one end portion thereof. i

The other end portion of saidmember (I') is equipped with a mouth'(4) of larger diameter than the bore (2). Inwardly of saidmouth. (l), the said member (I) is equipped with an annular groove which is provided with an outer beveled wall (5) bordering a substantially cylindrical wall (9) disposed inwardly of said beveled wall (9) and which is bordered at its inner end by a beveled'wall (1) vextending practically perpendicularly to the 'wall (I) and is ldisposed at an angie of approximately 38 to 40` degrees-to the longitudinal axis of the member (I). Bordering the innerend of the wall (1) is an annular shoul-I der (9) which is substantially perpendicular` to the bore (2) of the said'member (I) and to the groove will be referredv to The companion -member of the swivel joint consists vof a male member 9) which is of slightly smaller diameter than the mouth portion (4) off what may be termed the "socketf end of the i mouth (l) of the member (I) is equipped at portion (I0) which fits loosely telescopieally its inner end with a smaller 4diaiieter cylindrical l within the bore (2) lof the member u). Between- -said cylindrical "portion (IM/and the -body p0rhereinafter as thei somma. (ci. zsm) 'tion of 'the-member (s), the imei-is. provided with an annular groove (I I) constituting a companion to the groove (5) and which, in the completed structure, is lopposed to the latter. The groove (Ii) presents an annular shoulder (I2) extending perpendicularly to the axis of the member (9) and is opposed to the beveled wall (i) ofthe groovein the female member. The groove (I I) also includes a beveled wall (i3) extending parallel, or substantially parallel, with the bev- 10 eled wall (1) of the groove (5) and is opposed 'to the latter. Said beveled wall (I 9) meets at one end, the cylindrical wall portion (I4) which, in turn terminates at shoulder .(IE) which is bev-' eled and is substantially parallel with and opposed 15 to the beveled wall (9) of the groove of the female member.

Disposed within the annular chamber defined by said grooves (6) and (Il), respectively isa pair of split rings (I6) and (Il), respectively, ofzo are such that said rings are disposed in overlapping position, the ring I9) being of larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the ring (I1) vInitially and normally the rings (I9) and (I1) are oi' slightly smaller inner diameter than the lower end of the bore (2) and ofapproximately the same diameter as the'mouth. of the member (I).

In Fig. 2,' the rings (I6) and (I1) are shown to l'be in a position in which they are of substantially ber (I), the ring (I1) beingnow in the position at which it will expand. Both of said rings are also shown to be normally oi' the same, or substantially the same, inner diameter as the inner end portlon\(i0) of the male member. (9). Accordingly. in assembling the device, the ring (il) may be sprung into the groove (I) of the female member (I) and thering (I9) may be carried in. the groove of the male member (9) The initial relative positions of the component elements I, 9, I8 and I'I of the structure'may be said to-be that shown in Fig. 2 and fromY this position, the male member (9) is moved to final position in the i socket of the female member as shown in Fig. 3.

The ring (I1) abuts the ring (I8) at all times.

If now` the 4member (9) is subjected to pulloutwardly from thef female member (I), the ring the latter against the cyiindricai `wam (6) `if-the groove (9) and thus a very powerful wedging action is exerted by the ring (I 9) upon the ringv I'I) to expand the' latter and vice versa. This l u (I8) will act to expand the ring (I'I) and force causesthering (Il) tobecontractedtotheposition shown in Fig. 3. When in`this position. the cen'terof the ring (I),.in cross-section, will be disposed slightly inwardly of the cylindrical surface of the body of the member (I) The greater member (9) centered lrelatively to the member (I) or maintained'in axial alignment with the beveled end (2) of the male member (9).

In the instance ulustrated, the .member (I) receives the threaded end portion of a coupling member (I8) equipped with a beveled inner extremity (I9) which is opposed to a similarly This type of coupling is known in the automotive industry as an S. A. E. tubing coupling, the flared end` portion (2|) constituting a beveled annular flange oi' a length of vtubing (22) which passes through the central bore of the male member (9) being engaged between said beveled surfaces (Il) and (2) to produce a fluid-tight joint between the `member (Il) and the member (I9). The application of pressure upon said flange (2 I) tends to'eject the malemember (t) from the female member (I) and this is prevented by the said split rings (III) and (Il) in the manner hereinbefore described.

In the ordinary practice of disposing a single split ring in opposed grooves of two telescopically interfitting members, the relative diameters of said members are required tobe such as will pro- Ivide sumcient annular space between them to permit the ring to be sprung into place. This requires room in the grooves for expansion and contraction of the ring from its normal diameter and only `those'portions of the ring lying beyond `the annular space between the members coupled thereby, and projecting inwardly and outwardly of said space, are effective to prevent separation of said members and, therefore, the thickest portion ofsaid ring, lii' composed of round wire, lies within saidfannular space and can offer onlyy a limited resistance to separation of said members. In the structure of the present invention, the thickest portions of both rings carry the separating stress and, therefore, and because of their wedge action upon'- each other. make it impossible to separate the male and female members.

The'advantage of the structure shown and described herein will be appreciated when viewed in the light of the separating stress or strain to which the male and female members are sub- Jected when wrenches are applied to both thereof in order to clamp the nange (2i) of the tube (2!) to provide fluid-tight Joint capable of resisting extremely high pressures offtwenty thousand pounds per square inch and more.

InFIg. 5, I have illustrated another embodiment of the invention as applied, for example, to a hose coupling wherein the ring (Il) is confined in an annular groove (Il) bordering the central opening in the end wall (2i) of the shell cylindrical member (25) of the-coupling and the ring (It) is engaged in an annular recess (2B) in theA stem (Il) of the male member (28) of said couan annular groove having a bottom wall presenting a lower end portion extending angularly to the axis of the socket and flaring toward the mouth thereof, and an upper portion disposed substantially concentric with the axis of said socket, a top wall extending substantially transverselyto said lower wall portion and angularly to the said upper wall portion and converging toward the mouth of said socket, the said lower wall portion bordered by a wall extending substantially perpendicularlyto the axis-of the said socket and bordering a central opening in said member of smaller diameter than the mouth -of the socket,

a male member presenting cylindrical spaced split rings of different diameters trapped in said l respective annular grooves and disposed in overlapping and interengaging relation to each other.

2. A swivel joint comprising axially aligned male and female members, Ythe female members equipped with a socket formation presenting a partially undercut annular groove disposed angularLv the axis of said member, the male member equipped with companion annular groove opposed to that of the female member and extend- `ing si. bstantiaily similarly angularly to the axis of the male member, and a pair of split rings of respectively diiferent diameters trapped in both said grooves inoverlapping relation to each other and perating with the top wall of the firstnamed and the bottom wall of the second named groove to cause the larger diameter ring to be.

expanded'and the smaller diameter ring to be contracted responsively to longitudinal stresses upon said members to limit their relative longitu'dinal movements.

3. A swivel joint comprising axially aligned male and female members, the female member equipped with a socket formation presenting an annular internal groove in its circumferential wall, the latter having an upper cylindrical wall portion, in wardly extending beveled walls bordering and extending inwardly therefrom, and a bottom wall disposed substantially perpendlcuiarly to the axis of said member, the male member equipped with an annular groove presenting a lower cylindrical wall portion bordered by outwardly aring beveled wall portions and a top wall substantially parallel with the bottom wail of the groove of the female member, a pair of split rings trapped in said grooves and occupying space longitudinally of the members slightly less than the length of said respective grooves, the walls of said grooves 75v t 2,058,002 cooperating `with the different diameters of 'said rings to expand the larger and contract the smaller thereof in response to longitudinal stresses applied to said members tending to separate thel `ing an annular internal groove in its circumpass into said socket formation and both ex-` pansible to a diameter enabling the bottom wall of the groove of the male member to pass through the same in effecting-assembly of the structure,"the several walls of said respective grooves acting upon said rings to cause the innermost thereof to be maintained permanently of smaller diameter than the other ring and acting also to cause the latter to be expanded to hug the cylindrical and upper beveled walls respectively of the groove of the female member and cause the companion ring to hug the cylindrical and lower beveled wall of lthe groove of the male member upon applying separating force to said members.

5. A self-locking swivel joint comprising male' and female members having telescopically interengaged end portions, the latter being provided with opposed annular grooves extending angularly to the axes'of said members and cooperating to form an annular chamber, and a pair of resilient split ringsof respectively different diameters disposed within-and substantially filling said chamber, the smaller of said rings being of larger outer diameter than the inner and less than the outer diameter of the other ring and the latter' being normally of larger outer'diameter than the open end of the female member receiving the said end portion of the male member, the smaller ring being of larger outer diameter than the inner extremity of said end portion of said male member.

et, a companion member equipped with an end portion substantially fitting within said socket, said respective end portions of vsaid members equipped with opposed annular grooves, the groove of the first-named member lying in the outer wall of said socket, both said grooves being of larger diameter adjacent the'mouth of said socket than at their inner end portions,and a pair of resilient split rings of respectively different diameters each engaged in part in both said grooves and trapped therein, said rings being permanently disposed in overlapping relation to each other and acting upon each other to expand the larger and contract the smaller thereof responsively to stresses tending to separate said `members.

6. A self-locking swivel joint comprising a' member equipped in one end portion with a sock- 7. A self-locking swivel joint comprising a member equipped in one end portion with a socket, a companion member equipped with an end portion substantially iltting within said socket,

there being an-annular groove in the inner wall of said 'socket and a companion annular groove in the portion of the second member lying within 'said socket, said grooves dening an annular chamber adapted to receive key members, said chamber presenting opposed substantially cylin- .drical walls between its ends bordered by beveled walls, the beveled walls of onev groove converging toward the beveled walls of the other thereof, and a pair of resilient split rings of respectively different diameters constituting key members trapped in said chamber and retained in concentric overlapping relation to each other therein, the Walls of said grooves acting to limit the contraction of the smaller and expansion of .the larger ring when applying separatingv stress to said members to maintain said rings in overlapping relation to each other and cause the smaller ring to exert expanding force on the larger thereof during application of said stress.

8. A swivel joint for a pair of pivotally interengaged coaxial male and female members equipped with cooperating means limiting their relative' axial movement in one direction, said members equipped with annular grooves each presenting an annular shoulder opposed to the annular shoulder of the other member, said shoulder of the female-member bordering the opening therein through which the male memberprojects and said shoulder of the male member having an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said opening in said female member and spaced from said shoulder of the latter, the said shoulder .of the latter being overhung by an annular wall of said recess therein, a ring engaged in said last-named recess and substantially filling the same, and a companion ring of smaller diameter than the annular shoulder of the male member disposed between the latter and the firstnamed ring and substantially filling the space between the latter and the last-named shoulder,

' said rings cooperating with said shoulders and A female members equipped with opposed formations for preventing relative axial movement thereof in one'direction, said joint comprising a .member being of less inner diameter than the outer diameter of the companion ring and partially overlapping the same, saidrings cooperating with said shoulders and with each other toprevent relative axial movement of said members in the other direction.

IRVING COWLES. 

